Through three games this season, it hasn't been an ideal start for the 2019 NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore.
The cornerback has allowed 10 catches on 18 targets for 168 yards and a touchdown and has also been flagged three times for defensive pass interference.
This comes after he allowed only one touchdown and was flagged just five times all of last year.
Appearing on Ordway, Merloni & Fauria, ESPN NFL analyst Tedy Bruschi believes Gilmore deserves more respect from the officials.
“I think you have to look at it and realize what teams are thinking," he said. "I think what they see is they are not afraid to challenge him — what D.K. Metcalf did, what the penalties are showing. You can feel within the course of a game, or even watching it, that there’s a certain defensive player that gets benefits of the doubt — a tug here, a pass interference there — you get a call here and there. I think Stephon deserves a little bit more respect from the officials, in terms of being the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Sometimes you have a right to play aggressively, but [the refs] don’t see him in that light, I think.
“Ty [Law] used to get a bunch of calls like that. There are certain players in the league and it’s like, ‘Von Miller, he can jump offsides like that, and he can do things like that. Or a great cornerback.’ But, the challenging by the opposing offenses is a little concerning and the lack of respect by the officials is also something you have to recognize.”
Speaking Wednesday, Gilmore was asked if he likes when opposing quarterbacks target him in the passing game.
"I just try to prepare each and every snap," he said. "Coach put me in certain situations each and every week to make plays for my team. So whenever the ball come my way, I try to be in the best position I can. Different quarterbacks, you know, they have different opinions. So you have to be ready no matter what. If they're coming your way, you have to be ready. If they don't come your way, you try to be in the best position, if they do. That's how I look at it."
With the Patriots taking on the Chiefs this Sunday, Gilmore certainly figures to be targeted more given going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City passing offense.
